Folding conveyors



G. T. RONK FOLDING CONVEYORS May 8, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 24, 1955 INVENToR. @Par/a@ Z OJY BY 'K/ G. T. RONK FOLDING CONVEYORS May 8, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1955 G. T. RONK FOLDING CONVEYORS May 8, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet. 3

Filed Jan. 24, 1955 INVENTOR 'afy@ f/fyzz BY ,722/0272 ey United States Patent O FOLDING CONVEYORS George T. Ronk, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignor to Barnard & Leas Mfg. Co., Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa Application January 24, 1955, Serial No. 483,659

Claims. (Cl. 198-115) This invention relates to conveyors and more particularly to a locking means for a folding conveyor.

Folding conveyors used for elevating graders have heretofore been made with a hinge in the middle of the grader with bolts being used between the hinged sections to retain the two sections in alinement. This construc tion was improved in the co-pending application of George T. Ronk, Serial No. 309,347, filed September 12, 1952, entitled Conveyors, in which the locking member functioned automatically by proper manipulation of the two hinged sections of the conveyor.

The grader shown in the said application has proven very satisfactory but is somewhat complicated in that the conveyor sections must be moved in a predetermined sequence in order to manipulate the locking means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a locking member for the folding conveyor of an elevating grader which may be manipulated readily by an operator in the cab.

Another object is to provide a locking means for a folding conveyor in an elevating grader which will avoid complicated manipulation of the conveyor.

A further object is to provide a locking means for a folding conveyor of an elevating grader which will be more economical to manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a locking means for a folding conveyor of an elevating grader which will be simple and positive in action.

Still further objects will become apparent from the following specication, which, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrates a preferred form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section taken across an elevating grader showing the folding conveyor in elevation in its extended or operating position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the conveyor in folded or transporting position;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial elevational view of one side of the conveyor showing the construction of the hinge and the locking means therefor; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial elevational view of the opposite side of the conveyor, showing the construction of the hinge and the locking means therefor.

Referrings to the drawings, the conveyor, generally designated 10, comprises a loading section 11 and a discharge section 12, hinged together on a pin 13 which extends across the conveyor to permit the conveyor to fold from its extended working position, as seen in Fig. l, to a folded position for traveling, as seen in Fig. 2.

The conveyor is supported on a tractor, the tongue of which is indicated at 15 in Figs. 1 and 2. The tractor carries a frame 17, supporting a drum 18, carrying a cable Zti. The cable passes over a pulley 21 and is secured to the outer end of the discharge section to support the conveyor at the proper elevation.

2,744,615 Patented May 8, 1956 A second cable 23 is secured to the lower end of the loading end 11 of the conveyor and passes upwardly over a pulley 25 and is secured to the outer end of a pivoted ylever 26 so that movement of the lever 26 raises or lowers the loading end of the conveyor into and out of working position.

A frame 28 is xed to the tongue of the tractor and has a horizontal support upon which the loading section may rest during traveling, as seen in Fig. 2, and which supports the center portion of the conveyor during the locking and unlocking operation.

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 which show the joint or hinge between the loading and discharge section of the conveyor, it will be noted that the hinge or joint between the sections 11 and 12 of the conveyor comprises a pair of hinge plates 30-30, a pair of mating hinge plates 32-32, and the aforementioned hinge pin 13. The hinge plates 30-30 are connected to the outside of the web on either side of the loading section, while the hinge plates 32-32 are iixed on the outside of the web on either side of the unloading section 12 of the conveyor.

The hinge plates 30-30 carry tubular brackets 34-34 mounted on the exterior thereof and welded in position, the brackets 34-34 receiving the hinge pin 13. The pin 13 is secured between the brackets by set screws 35-35 positioned in collars 35'.

The hinge plates 32-32 are mounted to rotate on the pin 13 and are offset inwardly from the plates 30-30 to enable the plates 32 to clear both the plates 30 and the web of the side pieces of the conveyor section 11 in folding.

Thepin 13 is made preferably as a sleeve, and is formed with concentric bearings 36H36 in its outer end. The bearings receive a shaft 38 which may rotate within the bearings 36.

The shaft 38 forms a common fulcrum for a bell-crank lever 40 and a lever 41. The levers 40 and 41 are secured, one on each end of the shaft 38, by pins 42 which secure the hubs of the levers 40 and 41 to the shaft. Movement of the lever 40 is thus transmitted through the shaft 38 causing a corresponding movement of the lever 41.

The lever 40 comprises an actuating lever 40 extending generally upward from the fulcrum and a working lever 40 extending rearwardly from the fulcrum, parallel to the lever 41 on the opposite end of the shaft 33.

The outer free ends of the working lever 40 and the lever 41 are pivotally connected to adjustable links 44-44 to join the levers 40" and 41 with bell-crank levers 46-46. The levers 46-46 lie in a plane at right angles to the bell-crank lever 40.

The levers 46-46 are fulcrumed on shafts 48-48 and actuate a pair of locking blocks 50-50.

The shafts 48-48 are carried by brackets 52-52 and 52-52 xed on the hinge plates 30-30.

The locking blocks 50-50 are adapted to seat on top of the hinge plates 30-30 and to be abutted by both sets of hinge plates 30.30 and 32-32 in locked or working position to retain the conveyor alined for moving earth. A spring 55 connected between the outer end of the lever 40" and one bracket 52 urges the locking blocks into locking position.

A cord or cable 57 operates in a iiexible tube 57 and is attached to the outer end of the lever 40', passes through an aperture in a bracket 58 formed on one plate 30 and extends upwardly to the cab of the machine to enable the operator to actuate the locking block.

For further details of the conveyor see the copending application of George T. Ronk, Serial No. 309,347, tiled September 12, 1952, entitled Conveyors Operation In operation, if the conveyor is in extended or working position, as shown in Fig. l, the sections 11 and 12 are alined with both the hinge plates 30--30 andthe hinge plates 32-32 abutting the locking blocks S0`50 and the locking blocks 50 contacting the upper surface of the plates ISO-30 to form a rigid conveyor section maintained by the weight of the conveyor 20, with the locking blocks 50 acting as a key between the sections to prevent folding.

To fold the conveyor the operator in the cab lowers the discharge section 12 sufiiciently to release the pressure on the locking block from the two hinge plates 30 and 32.

When pressure is released on the locking blocks 50 the cord 57 is pulled, drawing the lever 40' rearwardly (or counter-clockwise as seen in Figs. l and 4). The rotation of the lever 40 counter-clockwise causes identical movement of both the levers 40 and 41, causing the outer ends of the levers 40 and 41 to move downward, drawing the links 44 downward and raising the locking blocks Sil-50 out of locking position from between the hinge plates 30 and 32.

With the locking blocks raised out of locking position the conveyor may be folded readily to a position shown in Fig. 2 by drawing in the cable 20. To complete the folding operation for traveling the loading end of the conveyor may be raised from contact with the ground by rotating the lever 26 clockwise as seen in Fig. 2.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention hereinbefore shown and described is to be taken merely as a preferred example thereof and that various changes in size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

That which is new and is desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

l. ln a folding conveyor including a loading section; a discharge section; a hinge fixed to said sections to permit the sections to fold, said hinge comprising afirst pair of hinge plates fixed to the loading section at the inner end thereof, a second pair of hinge plates fixed to the discharge section adjacent the inner end thereof, said second named plates lying in adjacent parallel planes to said first named plates, and a hollow hinge pin passing through all of said plates and forming a pivot on which said sections fold; a shaft passing through said pin and rotatably supported therein; a lever fixed to one end of said shaft; a locking means carried by one of said plates, said locking means being movable into and out of a locking position; and means operable by said lever to actuate said means.

2. In a folding conveyor including a loading section; a discharge section; a hinge fixed to said sections to permit the sections to fold, said hinge comprising a first pair of hinge plates fixed to the loading section at the inner end thereof, a second pair of hinge plates fixed to the discharge section adjacent the inner end thereof, said secondnamed plates lying in adjacent parallel planes to said first named plates, and a hollow hinge pin passing through all of said plates and forming a pivot on which said sections fold; a shaft passing through said pin and rotatably supported therein; a rst leverl fixed to one end of said shaft; a second lever xed to said shaft at` the opposite end thereof; a pair of locking means carried one on each of said first named pair of plates, said locking means being movable into and out of locking position; and means operable by said levers to actuate both said locking means simultaneously.

3. In a folding conveyor including a loading section; a discharge section; a hinge fixed to said sections to permit the sections to fold, said hinge comprising a first pair of hinge plates fixed to the loading section at the inner endv thereof, a second pair of hinge plates fixed to the discharge section adjacent the inner end thereof, said secondlnamed plates lying in adjacent parallel planes to said first named plates, and a hollow hinge pin passing through all of said plates and forming a pivot on which said sections fold; a shaft passing through said pin and rotatably supported therein; a lever fixed to one end of said shaft; a locking means carried by one of said plates, said locking means being movable into and out of a. locking position; and means operable from a point remote from said hinge to move the lever and actuate the locking means.

4. In a folding conveyor including a loading section; a discharge section; a hinge fixed to said sections to permit the sections to fold from an alined position to a position in which the sections are approximately perpendicular to each other, said hinge comprising a first pair of hinge plates fixed to the loading section of the conveyor, one plate on each side of the conveyor, a second pair of hinge plates fixed to the discharge section of the conveyor, one plate on each side of said section, said last named plates lying in adjacent parallel planes to said first named plates, and a hollow hinge pin passing through all of said plates to permit the sections to pivot thereon from their alined position to their folded position; a shaft mounted in said pin; a bell crank lever mounted on one end of said shaft; a second bell crank lever lyingin a plane at right angles to said first bell crank lever; a locking member actuated by said second bell crank lever; and means joining said bell crank levers to actuate the second lever from the first.

5. In a folding conveyor including a loading section; a discharge section; a hinge fixed to said sections to permit the sections to fold from an alined position to a position in which the sections are approximately perpendicular to each other, said hinge comprising a first pair of hinge plates fixed to the loading section of the conveyor, one plate on each side of the conveyor, a second pair of hinge plates fixed to the discharge section of the conveyor, one plate on each side of said section, said last named plates lying in adjacent parallel planes to said first named plates, and a hollow hinge pin passing through all of said plates to permit the sections to pivot thereon from their alined position to their folded position; a shaft mounted in said pin; a bell crank lever mounted on one end of said shaft; a second bell crank lever lying in a plane at right angles to said first bell crank lever; a locking member actuated by said second bell crank lever; means joining said bell crank levers to actuate the second lever from the first; and means to actuate said first lever from a point remote therefrom.

No references cited. 

